10 Unexpected Ways to Repurpose Your Kitchen Tools
When chefs met engineers, kitchen magic happened—and it continues every day for home cooks. From the legendary KitchenAid mixer to Zwilling’s precision knives, modern kitchen gadgets inspire us to ask, “What would an engineer do here?” If you don’t own every single tool imaginable, these hacks will help you improvise, save time, and get creative.
1. Slice Pizza with Kitchen Shears
No pizza wheel? Grab your sharp kitchen scissors to snip perfect triangles, even on glass or marble counters where a wheel might scratch.
2. Make “Zoodles” with a Vegetable Peeler
No spiralizer? Use a sturdy vegetable peeler to shave zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes into ribbons for “spaghetti” and tagliatelle-style salads.
3. Waffle Your Sandwich Maker—Or Vice Versa
Your waffle iron can grill breadcrumbs, pressed sandwiches, or even hash browns. Likewise, use a panini press to cook waffle batter into crisp breakfast treats.
4. Muffin Tins for Mini Frittatas & Stock Cubes
Pour beaten eggs and fillings into greased muffin cups for easy mini-frittatas. Or freeze broth and bone stock in the same molds, then pop out perfect 1–2 oz cubes for soups and sauces.
5. Grate Cold Butter for Flaky Pastry
Slide chilled or frozen butter over a box grater into flour for a quick, even “pâte brisée” base—no lumps, no warmed butter.
6. Egg Slicer for Mushrooms, Cheese & Fruit
Use your egg slicer to evenly slice mushrooms, mozzarella, strawberries, and soft fruits or cheeses for salads and sandwiches.
7. Apple Slicer for Wedges
An apple corer/slicer works wonders on potatoes, onions, or beets—perfect for uniform wedges at the grill or air fryer.
8. Imprint Cookies with Forks or Whisks
No cookie stamp? Press dough balls with a fork, whisk, or grill pan to create decorative patterns before baking.
9. Ice Cream Scoop for Melon Balls and Seed Removal
Use your melon baller to hollow out seeds and serve watermelon or cantaloupe as elegant spheres—ideal as “ice” in cocktails or bowls.
10. Steaming Basket Substitute: a Metal Strainer
No dedicated steamer? Suspend a heatproof stainless-steel strainer over simmering water, cover, and steam dumplings, veggies, or fish.